The peritoneal environment in endometriosis

Engin Oral, E Oral, D L Olive, A Arici
Human reproduction update · 1996 · vol. 2(5) , pp. 385–398 · doi:10.1093/humupd/2.5.385 · PMID:15717438 · W2161247040
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Peritoneal fluid in endometriosis patients contains elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and MCP-1, which correlate with disease severity and influence reproductive processes.

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Abstract

The local environment of peritoneal fluid (PF) surrounding the endometriotic implant is immunologically dynamic and links the reproductive and immune systems. Peritoneal fluid contains a variety of free floating cells, including macrophages, mesothelial cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils and mast cells. Macrophages are attracted to the peritoneal environment more abundantly than any other cell type. These scavengers promote cellular growth and viability through secretion of growth factors and cytokines. It is now becoming evident that cytokines play an important role in reproduction at various levels, including gamete function, fertilization and embryo development, implantation and postimplantation survival of the conceptus. Peritoneal fluid has been shown to affect negatively ovum capture by the fimbria, sperm survival, spermatozoon-oocyte interaction and embryonic development. We have recently identified the presence of two pro-inflammatory chemoattractant cytokines for monocyte/macrophages (MCP-1) and for granulocytes (interleukin-8, IL-8) in the PF. Concentrations of both IL-8 and MCP-1 are not only elevated in PF of women with endometriosis compared to those without endometriosis, but they are related to the severity of the disease. Over the past 70 years, at least a dozen theories have been proposed to explain the histogenesis and aetiology of endometriosis. It appears that the aetiology is multifactorial, and today a composite theory of retrograde menstruation with implantation of endometrial fragments in conjunction with peritoneal factors to stimulate cell growth is the most widely accepted explanation for peritoneal endometriosis.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Ascitic Fluid Endometriosis Animals Ascitic Fluid Ascitic Fluid Cytokines Cytokines Embryonic Development Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Epithelium Epithelium Epithelium Female Growth Substances Growth Substances

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (89)

Cited by (50)

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